Alan

You may advise your group that they can donate directly to the Society through our website by clicking o­n the "CanadaHelps.org" icon o­n the left side of the page.

Eliza

Subject: Burns Bog & Robert Bateman

Needless to say, everyone was stunned except the developers.

The Judge directed the developers to have proof by March 12, 2004 that they were capable of paying off all the mortgages. He stated did not want any conditions attached to the payments. The developers had presented a letter from the Bank of Montreal that it was prepared to supply the funds subject to certain conditions to pay off the Province.

The developers' lawyer stated several times that they were interested in the "original offer" of 2001 of $70 million for 5000 acres. They also stated that they had an offer of $90 million for the approximately 5500 acres.

Considerable pressure is being exerted o­n several politicians to cave in and agree to rezoning the 500 acres that the developers want to develop. This 500 acres includes the old peat plant site and land across Highway 91. This is the area that the ecosystem said was important but not essential for the survival of Burns Bog.

As the ecosystem concerned itself o­nly with the Bog, it did not take into account the impact of developing this 500 acres o­n the farming community of East Delta. This is an issue of concern raised by Delta residents when I have discussed the developers proposal to develop these 500 acres with them.

Also, o­ne of the developers has made it clear that he wants 500 acres to develop and he doesn't care where they are.

This is turning into a poker game. "He who flinches first loses." In this case, we all lose if the government flinches and gives into the developers and supports rezoning and development of this 500 acres.

The argument being put forward, is that we stand to lose all of it by holding out for the 500 acres.

The developers are using the Provincial government's promise to protect Burns Bog as a stick to force the government to give in o­n the 500 acres or give them more money.

It is time we (the people and the governments that represent us) started thinking outside of the box for creative ways to save all 5500 acres of Burns Bog.

As of March 31st all four levels of government will have new budgets and there is no guarantee that there will be funding to purchase Burns Bog (especially in the Federal Government's budget). The developers are banking o­n the Provincial government, GVRD and Delta flinching by then in order to save the Federal money that is o­n the table at the moment.

Some other items you should know. Stewart McLaughlin, President of Grouse Mountain Resorts is o­ne of the developer partners through Peel Financial etc.

Grouse Mountain has been left out of the Olympic 2010 plans. o­ne of the three pillars of the Olympics is the "environment." There has to be compensation for the environmental impacts by the Olympics--why not the protection of Burns Bog as part of the environmental compensation?

I hope this gives you food for thought. Please contact us with your ideas. Better still, contact your MLA and MP with your ideas and then let us know about them.

On March 6, 2004, the Burns Bog Conservation Society is holding its 3rd annual awards ceremony, "Celebrating Women & the Spirit of the Cranes." The purpose of this event is to focus o­n the relationship between women and cranes in indigenous society. Our Sandhill cranes return to Burns Bog by International Womens' Day (March 8th).

This year the theme is "Australian" to honour Brolga the Australian crane who in "dream time" was a young women pursued by an unwanted suitor. She danced up a storm that turned into a whirlwind. Out of the whirlwind came Brolga the crane. Brolga represents kindness, creativity and independence--all those good qualities attributed to women!

Robert Bateman is the keynote speaker.

The location: Coast Tsawwassen Inn, 1665-56 Street, Delta (Tsawwassen, just off Highway 17)

Time: 6:00 p.m., dinner, silent auction, guest speaker and awards ceremony (Skies Above Foundation has requested an opportunity to present awards as well at this event)

Price: $57 & $500 for a table of 10 before Feb 3rd and $70 & $600. for a table of 10 afterwards. There is also a special rate for tables of eight.

Contact: Melissa Tyson at 604-572-0373 or 1-888-850-6264

Information is also o­n our website under events.

A good showing at this fundraiser will send a strong message to the governments that there is strong support for saving Burns Bog. Please come and bring friends.

Please pass this information o­nto anyone you know that might be interested.

Thank you. We need to be strong and creative to find ways to save Burns Bog. We have a lot of support. A survey reported in the NOW newspaper showed that 85% of Vancouverites supported protecting Burns Bog and 80% in the Surrey/Delta area supported protecting Burns Bog. We just have to galvanize those people into acting and contacting their MLAs and MPs and letting them know how they feel.

We need your support, morally and financially if we are to continue to work to save Burns Bog.

The next few weeks will determine the Bog's fate. It's up to us to make sure that fate is what we want for future generations.

Sincerely,

Eliza Olson

President

Burns Bog Conservation Society

202-11961-88 Avenue

Delta, BC V4C 3C9

604-572-3073 1-888-850-6264

<mailto:eliza@burnsbog.org>eliza@burnsbog.org

<http://www.burnsbog.org>www.burnsbog.org